Joining forces: Bacillus-based products co-applied with chemical fungicides protect wheat against foliar diseases and increase yield
摘要
Wheat (Triticum spp.) is attacked by multiple foliar pathogens, typically managed through chemical fungicides or resistant cultivars. Biological agents have demonstrated efficiency against wheat diseases, but few studies investigated bio-based products against foliar pathogens, or their association with chemical fungicides. This study analyzed the compatibility between different Bacillus-based and chemical products, and their individual or combined (co-application) effectiveness against wheat leaf diseases under field conditions. The compatibility evaluated in Petri dishes in an artificial spraying chamber showed that all tested fungicides reduced colony formation of Bacillus amyloliquefaciens SIMBI BS 10 and Bacillus subtilis QST 713, but this reduction did not exceed 33%. Field experiments using cultivars TBIO Sinuelo and TBIO Sonic included an untreated control, two Bacillus-based products (B. amyloliquefaciens SIMBI BS 10 and B. subtilis QST 713), two recommended fungicide mixtures (azoxystrobin + cyproconazole and propiconazole; fenpropimorph and pyraclostrobin + metconazole), and their respective co-application. Individual applications of fungicides and Bacillus-based products significantly reduced leaf rust (Puccinia triticina) and powdery mildew (Blumeria graminis f. sp. tritici) compared to the control. Chemical fungicides provided a higher level of foliar disease control than Bacillus-based products. The co-application of Bacillus-based products with fungicides significantly enhanced control, reducing leaf rust by approximately 70% and powdery mildew by 87%. Consequently, Bacillus-based products or fungicides increased wheat yield. However, co-applications delivered the most significant gains, reaching increases of 1700 kg/ha, compared to the control. Co-application of Bacillus-based bioproducts with fungicides shows to be effective in the management of wheat diseases, enabling gains in grain yield.